WD-50

Wylie Dufresne hit the New York Restaurant scene in a big way with the restaurant right across the street from here, 71 Clinton Fresh Food. WD~50 is the first restaurant where Wylie Dufresne is both the chef and, along with his partners, Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Phil Suarez, an owner.

The menu at WD~50 utilizes the produce of each season, classic American ingredients, elements from a wide array of cuisines, and techniques from a variety of cooking traditions. The dishes on offer are an evolution of the menu at 71 Clinton Fresh Food and a culinary celebration of flavor, ingredients, and visuals.

Continuing the family affair, the restaurant was designed by Dewey Dufresne and Louis Mueller. Louis is responsible for the copper work, including the fireplace, the lighting, the shelving and the door fixtures in the restaurant. The bathroom features a mosaic with an aquatic theme by the artist Tim Snell. The artist Marlene McCarthy designed all of the restaurant's graphics.

In addition to fascinating and creative appetizers (such as pressed oysters) and main courses, the desserts are truly out of this world, and were assuredly enhanced with the arrival of pastry chef Alex Stupak.